Bob

Don't they charge you a few bucks extra for "plating"? Seems to negate the savings down our way.

Pulaski

Nope, not here.

scrubbedexpat091

Restaurants around here are not keen on people sharing plates, and some do have plate fees. The buffet type places of course charge on entry per person. No pay no entry.

dj6372

Nope

Pulaski

I imagine that Olive Garden might take a dim view of us sharing a $12 bowl of pasta, but a T-bone runs about $30, and a porterhouse, over $40, and with sides and drinks the bill at Longhorn is around $80 before a tip, so they're making good money from our table.

And I forgot to mention, the $40 porterhouse is sold as a steak "for two" anyway.

dj6372

Yeah we tend to drop 150-200 including wine etc.


This answer also applies to the 'what do you miss about the uk' thread and the 'plastic' meat comment. The steaks are easily the tastiest I have eaten.

BubbleChog

We've never been charged extra for sharing an Entree and several places actually ask and will plate up the meal on 2 plates.

They're even more helpful with smallchog

cxx

When living in the US I worked with someone whose family of 4 (2 adults, 2 teens) ate out every single evening, and they then either took leftovers for lunch or ate out then too.

lansbury

Yet another topic that a new OP hasn't bothered to return to and comment further.

Pulaski

Maybe she'll be back in time for supper.

lanyloopoo

I'm back! Previous experience was that people didn't respond any more when I responded so I was just waiting till the right moment. This totally has cleared up the argument and I feel somewhat idiotic for believing the single rich landlady that told us eating out was the cheapest way to go! maybe she wanted us not to use the kitchen in the appartment! lol x

Pulaski

BE is not a typical website - the more you participate, the more interest you are likely to get.

Here is a recent example of a thread where the OP kept posting. It is now at over 320 posts, and I suspect not finished yet.

Conversely when an OP disappears, threads often go off the rails, sometimes in a rather ugly way.

glowie

My hubby and I eat out around 4 times a week. Why? Not because it's cheaper, but because we both have full time jobs, neither of us knows on Sunday what we want to have for dinner on Wednesday (so a weekly shopping tour is not practical for us) and we (or better I, since I'm the one cooking, otherwise there would be hot dogs and microwave burritos on the menu at home...) like to spend the little free time in the evening during the week for our dog and hobbies.
On the weekend on the other hand I much rather cook, I have time to do the shopping and "enjoy" the cooking because I have time and can try new things, etc.

This running to the store after work then running home, going a quick round with the dog and then quickly whipping something up at home is a rarity and mostly only happens if I really have an appetite for something specific.

That said, money wise it definitely would be cheaper to cook myself all the time, although we use a lot of coupons, sign up for the chain restaurants clubs to get special offers etc. But in total, cost wise, which would include time and stress level, it makes more sense for us to eat out often.

mrken30

OK, I have found an exception to the eating out rule. I am able to work at a kids soft play. I have buffet and kids entertainment included. This saves me on child care costs and I can eat while I work. If I was at home I would have to entertain the kids.

sherbert

Really depends on where you shop and where you eat out. In the Bay Area you'll drop $70 on dinner for two (including one alcoholic drink each) and it will be mediocre at best, that's IF you can get into the restaurant in the first place without having to wait in line for two hours.

If you're into fast food then yes, you can feed an entire family of 5 on chicken nuggets and coke for less than $10.

The lower end supermarkets and Latino stores sell fresh produce and name brands at low prices. I don't know why anyone ever shops at Safeway.